Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-19
TIE FIRE COMMISSIONERS.
THE CHARGES AGAINST SULLIVAN
FAIL To MATBRIALIZE.
How the Grace Affidavit Was Pro-
cured-A Fine Opportunity for
Grand Jury Investigation.

Some weeks ago charges were made upon
| the streets, affidavits were filed with the
! Board of Trustees and various rumors were
afloat and published in the local press
which charged the Chief Engineer of the
! Fire Department, Con Sullivan, with de-
| frauding the city. Among the charges was
one that he swindled in the purchase OF
horse feed, and this item was claimed to be
largely out of proportion to the number of
animals fed. This charge was Immediately
met, and the proofs brought forward showed
that the greatest economy was, and had
been used in the feed department. The
horses were kept, and well kept, at a per
capita that at once gave the lie to all such
rumors. Then came statements of Sulli-
vans having bought l 900 feet Of hose upon
which he received a large commission. the
city paving the face Of the bill. The firm
from whom the purchase was made came
forward and stated that Mr.. Sullivan did
not purchase the hose the terms were
made by one Of the Fire Commissioners,
there was no commission, and their books
show that the amount charged the city, and
for which warrant was drawn, was
THE EXACT AMOUNT RECEIVED
By them. Here again were the charges
groundless and preferred against an in
dividual who had no voice in the trans
action. As fast as these charges were met
and annihilated others equally as shady
came to the front, and affidavits were filed
with the Board of Trustees, claiming that
Sullivan had purchased horses for the de-
partment charging the city more than he
paid for them, and sold others, turning over
TO the city less money than he received.
The Trustees read these affidavits in open
Board, their contents were published in the
press, and Chief Sullivan was summoned
to appear before the City Trustees and ex-
plain
THIS ALLEGED CRooKEDNEss.
In the light of preceding events, and
acting under the advice of his attorney, the
Chief refused to obey the order of the Trus-
tees, but asked for an investigation, full,
fair and complete, at the hands of the Fire
Commissioners. He claimed that the
Trustees had nothing to do with the sub
ordlnates in the Fire Department, and
asked an opportunity to vindicate his
assaulted character before the Commission
that had all the books and papers and con-
troll of the department of which he was the
chief appointed officer. The Fire Commits
sloners called meeting for the special pur-
pose of investigating those charges, the
members openly stating in the meeting and
upon the street that if Mr.. Sullivan was
guilty of even the least of these charges he
should be summarily dismissed from the
force, and they should go even further, and
PROSECUTE HIM IN THE COURTS.
They set a time for the hearing OF the
charges, and summoned all parties who
had been making these accusations to come
forward and present the same in writing
The meeting was attended by the Chief,
and was largely attended by spectators
The City Attorney, at the request of the
Trustees, was present, armed with the aft
davits which had been submitted to them.
He asked for time, saying he was not
ready to proceed, as he was unable to mar
shal his evidence, and he had failed to Sc
cure the attendance of the persons who had
made the accusing affidaYits. He was
asked by the Board when he could be
ready, and the meeting adjourned to that
date, in order tina: there should be a full,
fair and impartial examination.
AT the next meeting the Corporation
house was again crowded with spectators );
again was
THE CHIEF on DECK,
Ready to respond to any questions that
might be put to him and ready to disprove
all the allegations made. Again was the
City Attorney without his witnesses, and
without them. was unwilling to place any
charges in writing against the Chief. How
ever, he submitted the two affidavits re-
ferred to-one from man alleged to be
resident OF Stockton, and the other J. w.
Grace, Of Folsom. He said he was unable
to get into communication with the Stock
individual al
from Mrs. Grace stating that her husband
was in Placerville.
The Board refused to recognize the Aft
davits as charges, unless the parties max
ing them were brought before the investi-
CATION.
Mr.. Hart said be had no power to COM
pei their attendance, but II another post
ponement was had he would use all due
diligence to bring them before the Board
Both the atfidavits are of very recent date,
yet 1t is asserted that the Stockton man has
BEEN DEAD FOR OVER YEAR.
Grace in his affidavit charges that Sulli-
van paid him 5000 for horse and turned
it over to the city for $3.50. The books
show that the city paid $3.50 for the Grace
horse. While Grove L. Johnson, the
Chiefs attorney, was not opposed to as
many APPOINTMENTS as the opposition de-
sired, he asked the privilege OF taking the
testimony of some of the witnesses who
were pres ent SO they would not have to
dance attendance TO every session of the
investigation.
S. J. Jackson, q Supervisor and an ex-
member of the Board of Fire Commission
ers, was sworn, and testified that he pur-
chased the horse of Grace, Sullivan was
not with him at the time, and that he
(Jackson) paid Grace $3.50, partly in coin
and partly in a check on the California
State Bank. Sullivan was in no way con-
nected with the trade, and, as Chief En-
gineer, had no authority to buy or sell stock
tor the department
Frank Meyers. who was living at Folsom
at the time of the sale of the horse, testifies
that at that time
GRACE TOLD HIM
He had sold the horse to the Fire Depart
ment, and had received $3.50 for it.
G. c. Brown testified to the fact that so
far as he could recollect the horse ne had
purchased from the department was re-
turned properly to the city treasury.
City Attorney Hart said he bad inter
viewed Colonel McNasser regarding the
horses he had purchased from the depart
ment through Chief Sullivan and was